My middle son loves graphic novels. They really get him excited about reading, and I'm certainly down with that. I want him to excitedly pick out a book from the library and read it on the ride home. So he about nearly flipped when we sa…
When new babies make their grand entrances, their bigger siblings can sometimes feel the shaft. It's important to include them in welcoming the new addition--or, you can do what I did and have them so close together the older one doesn't…
Every year I go through my son's clothes to see what has stood the test of a season, and what needs to be retired. Since discovering Red 21 Boys last year, I'm delighted to say he's still wearing everything. And for my crazy active boy, …
My oldest daughter, now 7, learned how to ride a bike in a matter of minutes thanks to a few months spent on a balance bike beforehand. However, when it comes to my littler kiddos, they tend to get more frustration than fun out of riding…
Let's face it: If Tim Burton and Helena Bonham Carter had twins, they would look just like this, and Johnny Depp would give them a set of onesies like this at their Beetlejuice-themed baby shower . The Skeleton Love Kids organic shirt fr…
As much as my 5 month old would love for me to hold him 24/7, it's just not humanly possible. For the times I need to put him down, I think there's nothing better than a well-designed bouncy chair to keep baby upright while giving him a …
Sometimes it feels like we're in the middle of a plastic doll takeover. Those little dudes are everywhere (pretty sure most of them are in my living room) I am more convinced than ever that the last thing the world needs is another plast…
Ask my mom, and she'll tell you that she knew I was a writer from the moment I was born, or at least from the moment I started scrawling my first story on the wall in... um... nevermind. Too bad they didn't have this onesie back then. Th…
I have animal-crazy daughters, a wonderful characteristic I attribute in part to awesome grandparents that think to buy them "animal things" before buying them "princess things." So I was thrilled to see a nice partnership between Nation…
We played lots of board games in my house growing up, and with a 4 year age difference, there were few my sister and I could both make it through without quitting. (We in fact have never completed a game of Monopoly to this day.) One of …
I did this thing last year where I decided it to hand-make my daughter a Big Bird costume for Halloween--feather by feather. I'm not a natural costume-maker, so the whole thing was imperfect--but it was fun to make and she dug it. This y…
When we're running out the door on one of our million weekly errands, it's way too easy to just grab the iPad or a handheld electronic game to occupy the kids. But in my ongoing quest to "unplug" a little more often, I've discovered a ne…
I have a soft spot for Anthropologie ; their clothes have a kind of romanticism that makes me want to run off to Paris and spend my days eating macaroons in little sidewalk cafes. But this fall, Anthro brings that same dreamy style to ki…
On Saturday, our family will welcome a new addition. It's a girl, and she's black, furry and rescued from the streets of Indiana. So it seems entirely appropriate (if oddly coincidental) that one of our favorite PBS Kids' cartoons, Marth…
I've loved the spectacularly gorgeous, understated kids wear from Shirin NYC since first discovering them a few years ago. This is the kind of clothing I spot in a boutique, and the second I touch the silky cotton, I (attempt to) start j…
Birthday cards are kind of a big deal around our house; not just the ones we get, but the ones we give. My kids adore going through the big box o' loose cards I have, picking out the very perfect one for their friends, and putting as muc…
October is here, which in my house means we move the tights from the back of the drawer to the front and get ready to say goodbye to those cute bare knees. I'm so thrilled to find a new line of tights for girls that's not only affordable…
Regardless of temperature, I never believe it's actually fall until the calendar reads October. Which...hello, October! Now that I've spotted this Autumn Oak Leaf Wand from one of our favorite Etsy artists, I realize I'm definitely in th…
I'm not one to compromise my design taste because I have kids, but I do generally pass by the fancy dishes or ceramic vases at my favorite stores, not having a lot use for them these days. Still, that doesn't mean I have to rid my table …
My daughter is turning 3 next month and is starting to outgrow her naps! I am trying to enforce quiet time on the days she won't nap, and someone gave me the idea of letting her listen to audio books as her quiet time activity. I was hop…
Lots of mamas to boys have a common complaint: not enough awesome boy clothing in the world. But you know what? Around here, we see more and more evidence that boy clothes are starting to rock. Like these, for example, from a most unexpe…
Qu'est-ce que c'est? Why it's only the sweetest cardboard play structure I've ever laid eyes on. Okay, I've only laid eyes on it online, but still. I think my children need this thing, stat. The French Café from Little Play Spaces takes …
In spring, a young man's thoughts lightly turn to love. In fall, everyone's thoughts turn to a really kickass Halloween costume. Right? If you're looking for something really special this year , that will last past midnight on the 31st, …
Need a gift for the superstar girl who has everything? She could be 8. Or heck, 38. Either way, I think she'll like this adorable necklace which it turns out, is a lot more than a necklace. The Super Star Stamp Necklace is an adorable, e…